Project Design Authority

Location: Crawley, United Kingdom

Thales people architect solutions that enable two-thirds of planes to take off and land safely. We create in-flight entertainment systems that engross 50 million fliers every year and we develop the avionics that control the world’s largest commercial aircraft. Our simulators train the next generation of pilots for fighter jets, transporters and search and rescue helicopters. Together, each and every member of our aerospace team makes a difference. Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Primary Purpose of the Role:

The PDA is responsible for Solution Compliance for a Bid, Project or Product Development phase (as a Project).

Key Interactions:

The Project Design Authority (PDA) is responsible to the Training and Simulation Design Authority & Programme Manager/Director. They support the Solution Architect & the Solution Engineering Manager through key interaction with the Customer and End User to ensure the respective Training and Simulations solution is fit-for-purpose.

Key Responsibilities:

• The PDA ensures that the technical solution is feasible, competitive and meets customer expectations or product requirements, in terms of cost, innovation, performance, schedule, etc.
• Acts as the primary technical leader of the bid or project team. Acts as lead technical interface with the Customer.
• Monitor, review, advise and assist with technical issues across the programme.
• Ensures the solution compliance with product policies and requirements, as well as applicable legislation & regulations (i.e. Cybersecurity, export restrictions, Environmental/HSE, safety).
• Checks that the Engineering Environment (process, practices and tools) for the Solution is consistent with Country/Company requirements, and overall Solution cost, technical risks & schedule.
• Reviews together with the SEM (System Engineering Manager) the technical risks and opportunities and the related mitigation plans throughout the bid or project.
• Prepares the DVa and submits it to the Design Authority (DA) for approval.
• Approves the main bid/project engineering reviews and deliverables.
• Organises when appropriate technical meetings and peer reviews together with the Architect (ARC), Subject Matter Experts (SME), the SEM and other stakeholders (industry, services, specialists) in order to perform the solution technical assessment and validation.

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in a PDA or an equivalent customer-facing technical role.
• Broad knowledge of systems engineering especially in regards to understanding of Requirements Engineering & Management.
• Understanding of the various system lifecycles.
• Experience of formal verification, validation and acceptance activities.
• Good technical writing skills, excellent communication and analytical skills; excellent command of the English language, both written and oral.
• An effective team player who can interface at all levels across the organisation. Able to operate successfully in a multi-cultural environment, working effectively with teams distributed across different sites/countries.
• Able to accurately estimate and produce project and technical plans/specifications (cost/time).
• Self-starter, must be able to perform job responsibilities with minimal direction.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills both internal and external to the business due to the nature and complexity of the programme.
• Attention to detail, inquisitive and rigorous reviewing skills.
• Ability to analyse and combine data from various sources and to comment/report on them.
• Able to generate or initiate innovative solutions to complex problems.
• Demonstrates commercial awareness in the technical domain.
• Ability to balance the strategic view with tactical decisions in order to make the most effective technical decisions for the programme.
• Ability to influence both technical and non-technical decisions for the benefit of the programme and the future direction of the business.
• Use of DOORS, JIRA and Microsoft office.

Desirable Skills & Experience:

• Training and/or Simulation domain knowledge and experience.
• Experience of working on SFR&D, Digital Twins and/or Test and Evaluation projects.

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Science and/or Engineering.

Special Requirements:

• Ability to travel in the UK and internationally.

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

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